POLS 150 Democracy in America studies
American political and social institutions primarily through the political
thought, writings, and speeches of three categories of people: 1.) the nation’s
founders and the framers of the Declaration of Independence and the US
Constitution whose work structures the political controversies reappearing
through subsequent generations; 2.) office holders who bore responsibility for
dealing with these controversies and who both changed and preserved
constitutional institutions and democratic thought and practice; and 3.) the
influential non-office holders whose thought helped shape public opinion,
social change, and law, and whose thought provided insight into
both the goodness
and badness of American democracy. Among the latter, Tocqueville’s commentary,
is still (160 years after its publication) commonly regarded as the best ever
written in this regard and is also what gives this course its name and its
spirit.

Why a Constitutional and
Democratic Focus?

Emphasis is placed on the US Constitution because, as the central
legitimating symbol of American political life, citizens need to understand how
it frames political controversy and how it influences political and social
change. To that end, we will study important debates concerning both democratic
institutions and the meaning of liberty and equality from the
Founding until now. Such debates include whether we needed a national
government and how the framers thought it could be kept from being oppressive;
disputes about what political/economic conditions make American democracy
possible; successive waves of controversies about whether the suffrage
(voting rights) should be expanded; whether the Founders’
Constitution was
democratic; whether it was a slave or a free Constitution; whether it
recognized the humanity of the Negro, as African-Americans were then called;
whether the national government should regulate the economy and provide
welfare; disputes about what democratic representation is; whether separation
of powers prevents democracy or makes it possible; whether religion is an
indispensable political institution or a persistent political problem; what
makes one a citizen; what law-abidingness means and whether it is or is not a
duty; and the relation of women to democratic government and society.

The persistent and over-arching theme of this class will be the disputed
question “What is democracy?”
In keeping with its disputed nature, we will
study a range of opposing answers. Considerable attention will be given to the perennial
dispute on whether democracy, in the most humanly and ennobling sense, is
possible primarily through local institutions (as maintained in the American
political tradition by the anti-Federalists and Tocqueville); or whether it is
possible primarily through national institutions (as maintained by the
Progressives, the New Deal, and the Great Society). This dispute turns on
whether democracy is understood to involve (or be) primarily “self-government”
in that oneself and one’s neighbors are primarily responsible for solving the
day-to-day problems of living together (as the Jeffersonian tradition down to
the Republican contract with America maintains); or whether democracy is understood
to involve (or be) a greater degree of national-level government
to regulate
the nation’s economy in order to promote “economic democracy” and secure rights
(as the Hamiltonian tradition down to modern “civil liberties” and “civil
rights” maintains).

Both
this over-arching theme and the nature of the readings present a distinctive
approach to American democracy and government. The approach is historical,
cultural, and philosophic, particularly emphasizing the mutual interdependence
of governmental and social institutions. It is further distinguished by its
purpose that (unlike POLS 100) is not necessarily to introduce students to the
sub-field of American politics, or even to the political science major/minor
(although it does that). It is
aimed at all students whether or not they enter
the course intending further study of political science. Its aim is deepening citizen’s
understanding and awareness of persistent issues, arguments, and themes
of American democracy’s development.

Required Texts and Readings

1.A POLS 150 Reading Packet. (Although both bookstores have
these packets, Village

3. Peter Lawler and
Robert Schaefer ed. American Political Rhetoric. Fifth Edition.

Rowman &Littlefield,
2005.

*As we will be reading and referring to particular
passages in these texts, it is essential that each student brings a copy of
these editions to class.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance at each class meeting is both expected and
required. Attendance is defined as “being present when attendance is taken
at the beginning of each class and remaining until class is dismissed.” Please do not come late to class, as this is both
discourteous and disruptive. Students who come to class after attendance has
been taken will be considered absent. If there are special circumstances
regarding this matter, please discuss them with the instructor as soon as
possible. Students with extended absences due to illness should notify the
instructor as promptly as possible
during the absence and produce appropriate
documentation indicating the nature and duration of the illness. This note
should be provided to the instructor at the first class upon returning. The
student’s final grade will be reduced half a letter grade for each absence over
4.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Proper participation in class is both required and
rewarded. As this is a course concerning the discussion of ideas, simple
attendance without participating in discussion is insufficient. The good
student will be present and attentive in class as well as actively
participating in class discussion by answering questions about the assigned
readings, raising their own questions, and volunteering thoughtful observations
about the material. Proper class participation also requires that the student
behave with proper courtesy and regard for others’ comments. Because most of
our classes will involve reading and discussing passages from the assigned
texts, students should bring the appropriate readings to each class. Frequent
class discussion will foster a classroom environment that will be far more
interesting
and rewarding than a classroom environment in which the instructor simply
lectures every day.

QUIZZES

There will be 6 quizzes given throughout the
semester. Only 5 of these quizzes will count toward the final grade-the lowest
quiz grade will be dropped. However, the remaining ten quizzes comprise 20%
of
the final grade in the course. The quizzes will consist of 3 or 4 short answer
questions to be completed at the beginning of class on the dates specified in
this syllabus. Each quiz will cover the class lectures and assigned readings
from the preceding week as well as readings assigned for the day of the quiz.
Make-up quizzes will be given only with adequate documentation that the absence
was unavoidable. The make-up quizzes will be significantly more difficult than
the original. It is in the student’s best interest to avoid make-up quizzes if
at all possible.

PAPERS

There will be 1 short essay (900-1000 words) assigned
on the date specified in below in the syllabus. Essays are to be handed in at
the beginning of class, two weeks after the assignment is made, on the due date
given in the syllabus below. Late papers will be accepted up to three days
after the due date; however, these papers will be docked one letter grade for each
day they are late. The 1000-word limit will be taken seriously. Please provide
a word count on the first page of your
essay. Any paper exceeding the 1000-word limit will be docked one letter grade.
Any evidence of
plagiarism will be treated in accordance with university and
department policies and procedures.

EXAMS

There will be 2 examinations in this course-a midterm
examination to be taken in class

(Monday, Oct. 15th) and a comprehensive final examination to be given
on the date assigned by the university (Monday, Dec. 10th
from 4-5:50 p.m.). Students will be
expected to bring blue books to both exams. Make-up examinations will be given
only with adequate documentation that the absence was unavoidable. The make-up
exam will be significantly more difficult than the original. It is in the
student’s best interest to avoid make-up exams if at all possible.

GRADING

Final course grades are based upon the required
written assignments, quizzes, and exams, as well as the regularity and quality
of class participation, less any penalties due to extended unexcused absences
and other non-completed course requirements. The instructor will not give a
formal grade for class participation, although she reserves the right to raise
a student’s grade if she judges that student’s participation to have been
exceptionally good. Grades
will not be lowered merely for lack of active class
participation.

APPOINTMENTS

The instructor will make every reasonable effort to
be available to you. If you cannot come during her scheduled office hours,
please e-mail her to schedule a mutually convenient appointment. Her
office
number, phone number, and e-mail address are at the beginning of this syllabus.
If you call during her office hours and are unable to reach her, first try to
call again in a few minutes. If she is still unavailable, please e-mail her and
she will get back to you promptly.

STATEMENT CONCERNING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
NIU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with
documented disabilities. Those students with disabilities that may have some
impact on their coursework and for which they may require accommodations should
notify the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) on the fourth floor of
the Health Services Building. CAAR will assist students in making appropriate
accommodations with course instructors. It is important that CAAR and
instructors be informed of any disability-related needs during the first two
weeks of the semester.

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE WEBSITE

Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to consult the
Department of Political Science web site on a regular basis. This up-to-date,
central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and
staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study,
researching career options, tracking department events, and accessing important
details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach
this site,
go to http://polisci.niu.edu/

SOME SUGGESTIONS:

1. Class Participation--The best way to prepare for each class is to do
the readings at least once

(some
require more than one reading) prior to the first day we begin each unit. You
will be

much better able to participate in discussion and to grasp the class
discussions if you have

done so.

2.
Good Note Taking—Good note taking is important to your success in this class.
Learn to

listen carefully to the arguments made and write them down as best as
you can. Review your

notes after class to see if they make sense. By reviewing them soon
after they are taken,

sometimes you can remember things that will make sense out of
what is
confusing. Be sure to

write down the questions asked by the instructor and those asked by
other students. If you

write down their questions, as well as their answers, you will benefit.

3. Establish Study Groups—Get together with other students periodically
to go over
one

another’s notes. If you got 50% of the lecture and your study partners
got 50%, perhaps among

you all, you will have 75%. What remains unclear can be discussed with
the instructor.

COURSE SCHEDULE

*The following schedule is meant to serve as a broad
outline of this course. The instructor reserves the right to make reasonable
adjustments to the schedule if necessary.

MONDAY 08/27

Overview of the course syllabus

Introduction: What
is Liberal Education and how does the study of democracy in America foster it?